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Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
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London Court of King's Bench proceedings on April 18: Bookseller John Cuthell and author Rev. Gilbert Wakefield convicted of libel for Wakefield's Reply to Bishop of Llandaff; both committed to prison awaiting sentencing next week and May 20, respectively.
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LAW REPORT.
Court of King's Bench, April 18.
Mr. Attorney General moved for the judgment of the Court on John Cuthell, Bookseller, in Middlerow, Holborn, who was convicted before Lord Kenyon and a Special Jury, at the Sittings after last Term for Westminster, of publishing a Libel. (Mr. Gilbert Wakefield's Reply to the Bishop of Llandaff's Address to the People of Great Britain.)
After the Libel was read by the proper officer, and after the Lord Chief Justice had reported the evidence given at the trial, Mr. Erskine, on the part of the Defendant, made an excellent speech in mitigation of punishment.
Mr. Attorney General, on the part of the Crown, then stated the motives which had induced him to institute these prosecutions against the Publishers as well as the Author of that publication. He also expressed an anxiety that a mild sentence should be pronounced on the Defendant, though he observed it was unnecessary for him to express that anxiety, as the Court never failed to take into their consideration every circumstance of mitigation, and to allow it its full weight.
Lord Kenyon said, the Court could not on the sudden weigh all the arguments that had been used. In the interim the Defendant must be committed to the King's Bench Prison. "They wished to bring him up to receive the judgment of the Court the earliest day they could." It was impossible, as the business of the Court was arranged, that could be earlier than next Wednesday.
Mr. Attorney General next moved for the judgment of the Court on the Rev. Mr. G. Wakefield who was convicted as the Author of the Libel entitled a Reply to the Bishop of Llandaff, on the same day that Mr. Cuthell was found guilty of publishing it.
After the Lord Chief Justice had reported the evidence given at the trial, Mr. Wakefield said, he had no Counsel, and then read a speech upwards of an hour long in mitigation of punishment.
After a few words by way of reply from Mr. Attorney General, the Lord Chief Justice said, the Defendant must be committed to the King's Bench Prison, and brought up on the first Thursday in the next Term (20th of May.)
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
London
Event Date
April 18
Key Persons
Outcome
judgments deferred; cuthell committed to king's bench prison and to receive judgment next wednesday; wakefield committed to king's bench prison and to receive judgment on the 20th of may.
Event Details
In the Court of King's Bench, Mr. Attorney General moved for judgment on John Cuthell, convicted of publishing Gilbert Wakefield's libelous Reply to the Bishop of Llandaff's Address. After reading the libel, reporting evidence, and speeches in mitigation by Mr. Erskine and Mr. Attorney General, Lord Kenyon committed Cuthell to prison pending judgment next Wednesday. Separately, judgment was moved on Rev. Mr. G. Wakefield as author; after evidence report and his speech, he was committed pending judgment on the 20th of May.